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(23 June 1757)

The village of Plassey in West Bengal, India, was the site of Robert Clive's victory over Nawab Siraj ud-Daula, which opened the way for the East India Company's acquisition of Bengal. Clive had prepared Siraj's elimination by buying support from his enemies, notably by promising the nawabship to Mir Jafar, a rival. In the ensuing encounter, in which he was heavily outnumbered, Clive was aided both by good luck and by Mir Jafar's defection from Siraj. After the victory Mir Jafar was made nawab, with Clive as governor.